Golf training device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to train and prevent golfers from slicing a golf ball and increases distance by promoting the proper angle of attack when striking a golf ball and creating the proper body motion for maximum performance, the apparatus comprising: a belt clip having a rounded portion and a clip; a protrusion in communication with and perpendicular to rounded portion; a soft material having an opening that is the same shape as protrusion to allow soft material to attach to protrusion.

The present invention relates generally to golf and more particularly totraining devices or aids for golfers to prevent improper shifting of thegolfer's leg and improper swaying of the golfer's hips.

Golf is a game of balance and skill. During the swing, a golfers weightshifts between the back leg (during the backswing). One problem that mayoccur is that when the golfer shifts their weight on the backswing, theymay lean their body tilting their rear leg or knee. During the forwardswing, they may not be able to correct this. This generally results inthe face of the club being too open on impact with the ball and resultsin slicing. The term slicing a golf ball is well known within the artand generally refers to when the ball spins so as to curve in thelateral direction toward which the body faces. For example, the right ofa right handed golfer.

It can be extremely difficult to correct a slice and add distance asgolfing can be counterintuitive and go against the golfers naturalstride and comfort. Accordingly, many attempts have been made to correcta golfers balance and form. However, none has provided such alightweight, effective apparatus that may be used by golfers of allshapes and sizes and does not require working parts and adjustment forsize or shape.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an easy to use, lightweightapparatus that can be used for golfers of all shapes, sizes and heightsas well as by right and left handed individuals without any adjustmentor difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to golf training devices.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus totrain and prevent golfers from slicing a golf ball is provided, theapparatus comprising: a belt clip; a protrusion in communication withand perpendicular to the belt clip; a soft material having an openingthat is the same shape as the protrusion to allow the soft material toattach to the protrusion, wherein said soft foam material protrudes atleast two inches from said belt clip.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus to train and preventgolfers from slicing a golf ball is disclosed, the apparatus comprising:a belt clip having a rounded portion and a clip portion; a protrusion incommunication with and perpendicular to said rounded portion, whereinsaid protrusion is an elongated plus sign; a soft material having anopening that is the same shape as said protrusion to allow said softmaterial to matedly attach to said protrusion.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts an elevational view of the belt clip and protrusionaccording to the present invention

FIG. 4 depicts an elevational view of the belt clip and protrusionaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a side view according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a side view according to the present invention and

FIG. 7 depicts a schematic according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratingthe general principles of the invention, since the scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention provides is a unique golf training apparatus thatis useful in developing the proper club swing for golfers. The apparatus(10) is a geometric design apparatus (10) that is attached to thegolfers belt or waist band by means of a fixed or break away clip. Theclip is slipped onto the golfer's belt or waistband and is positioned onor in close proximity of the golfer's hip. Due to the geometry, lengthand position of the apparatus (10) the proper swing of a golfer mustmiss and not contact the apparatus (10) to maintain the proper clubswing and follow through critical to a good golf swing. If the golfercontacts the apparatus (10) and it is dislodged from the golfer's beltor waistband or if the apparatus (10) detaches from the belt clip thenan improper swing and/or body position has occurred. By the action ofthe golfer's arm swing and/or hip follow through during an improperswing the apparatus (10) assembly will be dislodged from the golfer'sbelt or waistband.

The present invention is constructive of but not exclusively of thefollowing materials and designs: The belt clip (12) assembly is aninjected molded plastic clip designed in such a manner that it can beaffixed to a standard belt worn in standard belt loops of men's orwomen's trousers. The belt clip (12) is also designed where it can beslipped over the waist band of the standard men's or women's trouserswithout the need for a standard belt. The belt clip (12) can be a of adesign permanently affixed or a design such that the belt clip (12) willdisconnect from the apparatus assembly by means of a connecting meanssuch as a mechanical connector, magnetic connector, VELCRO® or othertype of apparatus.

The protruding cylindrical portion of the apparatus is constructed ofmolded plastic, Styrofoam, or other soft material as deemed necessary bythe design. This cylindrical portion of the apparatus can be designedand manufactured in such a manner as to be permanently affixed to thebelt clip assembly or can be designed to dislodge from the belt clipassembly by a connecting means such as a mechanical connector, magneticconnector, VELCRO® or other type of apparatus.

The apparatus can be of cylindrical or other geometric shape anddimension as deemed necessary for the design. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, thepresent invention provides an apparatus (10) to train and preventgolfers from slicing a golf ball, the apparatus (10) comprising: a beltclip (12); a protrusion (14) in communication with and perpendicular tothe belt clip (12); a soft foam material (16) having an opening (18)that is the same shape as the protrusion (14) to allow the soft material(16) to attach to the protrusion (14), wherein the soft foam material(14) protrudes at least two inches from the belt clip. The opening,according to a preferred embodiment is the same shape as the protrusion(14) to allow the protrusion (14) to matedly attach to the opening (18).The foam material forms the opening which is the same shape as theprotrusion (14). It is envisioned that the belt clip may have a roundedportion (11). The soft foam material (16) may be any material that isfoam or cushion like without departing from the present invention. Theremay also be an adhesive to fixedly attach the soft foam material (16) tothe protrusion (14). According to one embodiment, the protrusion may bean elongated plus sign shape (14). The term an elongated plus sign shape(14) is intended to refer to that depicted in FIG. 3. The protrusion mayalso be a cut cone (20) with at least two traction ribs (22) protrudingtowards the belt clip at angle less than 60 degrees from the cut cone.The traction ribs (22) should point back towards the belt clip so thatthe foam material does not come lose with outward or downward pressure.As shown in FIG. 4, there are four traction ribs placed at the same coneheight and separated radially by 90 degrees. As shown in FIG. 5, the atleast two traction ribs may be two sets of two tractions rib placed attwo different cone heights and separated radially by 180 degrees. Asshown in FIG. 6, the soft material (24) may be dome shaped. FIGS. 1-2depict the soft material (16) as an elongated cylinder shape. The softmaterial may also be an elongated rectangular shape. Typically the saidsoft material is between 4 and 6 inches in length, preferably 5 inches.FIG. 1 depicts the length as “L”. FIG. 7 depicts another embodimentaccording to the present invention. As shown, the protrusion (41) is adome or raised circle. The soft material (42) is removably attached tothe protrusion (41) by a connecting means, which is a magnet (44). Thereis also a keeping means (40). The keeping means according to theembodiment depicted is a string. However, it may be any variety of itemsthat prevent the soft material (42) from falling to the ground.

It should be understood that the foregoing relates to preferredembodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

1. An apparatus to train and prevent golfers from slicing a golf ball,said apparatus comprising: a belt clip; a protrusion in communicationwith and perpendicular to said belt clip; a soft foam material having anopening that is the same shape as said protrusion to allow said softmaterial to attach to said protrusion, wherein said soft foam materialprotrudes at least two inches from said belt clip.
 2. An apparatus as inclaim 1, wherein said protrusion is an elongated plus sign shape.
 3. Anapparatus as in claim 1, wherein said protrusion is a cut cone with atleast two traction ribs protruding towards said belt clip at angle lessthan 60 degrees from said cut cone.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 3,wherein said at least two traction ribs are two sets of two tractionsrib placed at two different cone heights and separated radially by 180degrees.
 5. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said at least twotraction ribs are four traction ribs places at the same cone height andseparated radially by 90 degrees.
 6. An apparatus as in claim 1, whereinsaid soft foam material is dome shaped.
 7. An apparatus as in claim 1,wherein said soft foam material is an elongated cylinder shape.
 8. Anapparatus as in claim 1, wherein said soft foam material is an elongatedrectangular shape.
 9. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said soft foammaterial is between 4 and 6 inches in length, preferably 5 inches. 10.An apparatus as in claim 1, where said soft foam material is removablyattached to said protrusion by a connecting means.
 11. An apparatus asin claim 1, further comprising a keeping means.
 12. An apparatus totrain and prevent golfers from slicing a golf ball, said apparatuscomprising: a belt clip having a rounded portion and a clip portion; aprotrusion in communication with and perpendicular to said roundedportion, wherein said protrusion is an elongated plus sign; a soft foammaterial having an opening that is the same shape as said protrusion toallow said soft material to matedly attach to said protrusion.
 13. Anapparatus as in claim 12, wherein said soft foam material is domeshaped.
 14. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said soft foam materialis an elongated cylinder shape.
 15. An apparatus as in claim 12, whereinsaid soft foam material is an elongated rectangular shape.
 16. Anapparatus as in claim 12, wherein said soft foam material is between 4and 6 inches in length, preferably 5 inches.
 17. An apparatus as inclaim 12, where said soft foam material is removably attached to saidprotrusion by a connecting means.
 18. An apparatus as in claim 12,further comprising a keeping means.